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Zero 7
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The Silver Lining
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 12 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 11 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Sony
Release Date: 11 July 2006
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Alternative, Rock
Summary
The Dave Pirner-led band's first album in eight years includes tracks recorded with the group's late bassist Karl Mueller as well as The Replacements' Tommy Stinson (who, yes, served as a replacement).
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Amazon.com
Sport[s] a trace more big league sparkle, but with the frayed cleverness and rock-solid musicianship that their fans know best.
Read Full Review >Spin
Sound[s] like a band that's discovered how to enjoy itself again. [Aug 2006, p.85]
Q Magazine
The sound of a band growing old comfortably. [Sep 2006, p.110]
Billboard
An old-school alternative rock album full of oversized riffs and open-hearted hooks.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
The Silver Lining suggests that Soul Asylum might still have another great album in them (especially if Murphy does more of the songwriting), but this one certainly isn't it.
Read Full Review >Entertainment Weekly
The nostalgia train is stalled by embarrassing platitudes and well-worn riffs. [14 Jul 2006, p.79]
PopMatters
As bad as The Silver Lining is, a knee-jerk reaction would obscure some redeeming moments.
Read Full Review >Mojo
It finds the band stranded in the middle-of-the-road, spinning its wheels amid a mass of musical cliches and Dave Pirner's overwrought lyricism. [Aug 2006, p.104]
Uncut
The music... has become a too-clean version of their state's patented, tumbledown take on Stonesy power-pop. [Sep 2006, p.97]
Filter
Most of it just falls flat, neither recapturing the glory days nor squarely moving the band into a new era. [#21, p.102]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 11 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Mark G. gave it a2:
The user who mentioned Nickleback gave away more than they probably realise. The problem with The Silver Lining is how bog-standard it is throughout. Pirner's once sharp lyrics (Black Gold, Somebody To Shove, Cartoon) are now riddled with cliches and the music is criminally lacking in hooks and the frayed-at-the-edges rawness of the pre-A&M days. There's nothing wrong with a band growing more accomplished and polished with age but Soul Asylum have become a tired, uninspired MOR rock band, more similar to the aforementioned Nickleback than their former selves. When you consider that these guys were once mentioned in the same breath as The Replacements, Buffalo Tom and Husker Du, a lame effort like The Silver Lining is criminal. The last great song from a member of Soul Asylum was Dan Murphy's Ill-Fated with Golden Smog. On the strength of that song and what the band were once capable of, there is still a glimmer of hope for Soul Asylum.
Jakob K gave it a9:
Without a doubt, Soul Asylum know how to craft songs that stay with you. I remember hearing the tunes of "Runaway Train" all through my childhood, but only recently found out that they are so much more than one-hit wonders. It turns out "Runaway Train" was in no way a lone masterpiece; the songs on The Silver Lining have that very same emotion to them. With quality tracks such as "Lately," "Whatcha Need," and "Standing Water," it is a shame that radio and TV didn't pick this album up. The Silver Lining is an awesome album, and a memorable last effort if Soul Asylum would decide to go their separate ways after this.
Joey W gave it a9:
Great record....gets better every time I listen to it.
Estabon S gave it a9:
I have been a fan since their inception and I LOVE this album! It captures America's early 21st century angst like a very groovy and touching snapshot. The beautiful sublety of the themes lie in the fact that everything is 'laid between the lines'; i.e. the hauntingly evocative "Standing Water" which brought me to tears (I grew up 40 miles from New Orleans and still can't get over the fact that MOST of the city looks quite a lot like Fallujah to this day). The 'pro' critics must NOT be used to listening to music versus merely 'hearing' the music! The Great Exaggerator would make a hell of a campaign song for anyone who is NOT up George Bush's wazoo..... Buy it, You'll like it! Mr. Estabon My name is Bon and I approve of this posting!
Doug R gave it a9:
While not as undeniably brilliant as anything pre-their last masterpiece ("Let Your Dim Light Shine") I haven't been able to stop listening to this record. Even the few songs which are admittedly lyrically lacking or somewhat sappy are still catchy as all hell and this album does what their last one ("Candy from a Stranger") just plain never did: rocks your ass. Standout tracks like "Oxygen", "Bus Named Desire", "Standing Water", "All is Well" and "Slowly Rising/ Fearless Leader" are all instant classics and anyone of them would fit perfectly on "Made to be Broken" or "Hang Time" or whatever your favorite early SA album may be. RIP Karl.
Sonia C gave it a10:
Great CD!!!!! is goog to have them back.
Sher V gave it a9:
So happy to have them back, and this is a great listen!
